Community-based ecosystem management (CbEM) of Arial Beel at Munshiganj District in Bangladesh by integrating MIMES model

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the current state of community-based ecosystem management (CbEM) of at Munshiganj District in Bangladesh by applying Multiscale Integrated Model of Ecosystem Services (MIMES) approach. Both primary and secondary data were collected through questionnaire survey, focus group discussions (FGD) and content analysis from various sources. The SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities, and threat) analysis are applied to prioritize the most important strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in Arial Beel ecosystem services. Besides, the DPSIR framework was also applied for conceptual framework to assess the effects on ecosystem services. The study outcome reveals that all ecosystem services (ES) have high importance to the respondents in every sphere of life. The MIMES model analysis was shown that easily accessible and pleasant climatic conditions were the strength whereas funding problems and less private input on agriculture were identified to be the weakness. Fisheries utilization and the huge availability of raw materials were found to be opportunities. On the other hand, over-harvesting of the natural resources and increasing, use of fertilizer/pesticides in agricultural land were found to be the main threat for ecosystem services. Also, the DPSIR model framework gives a conceptual idea about the driving forces, its pressure, its current state, impact, and responses of the ecosystem services, respectively. Finally, this paper shows some aspects of community perception of ES which have the potentiality to generate knowledge to protect the services of the wetland.